Locked on Sports: Hasselbeck the latest to blossom under Holmgren

Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, December 27, 2005

"I've been fortunate to be around three Hall of Fame quarterbacks, and maybe four." -- Mike Holmgren, Dec. 26, 2005

Matt Hasselbeck a future Hall of Famer? Most likely, this comment was made during a moment of exuberance in a dream season. But the meaning is that Holmgren, the quarterback maker, has molded another star.

Holmgren arrived in Seattle with the names Joe Montana, Steve Young and Brett Favre on his résumé. Doubters argued there was nothing special about molding such super talents.

But shaping a sixth-round draft pick who spent his first year in the NFL on a practice squad into a Pro Bowler has left no doubt that Holmgren has a special touch.

Holmgren's first work with quarterbacks came as an assistant at BYU under coach LaVell Edwards in 1982. "I always liked his temperament," Edwards said. "With quarterbacks you have to be consistent with them, with how you work with them. He did that."

Holmgren learned a system that allows passers to prosper. His first teacher was Edwards, and the second was Bill Walsh, perhaps the best offensive coach of all time.

The system is the foundation. The ability to mold players into the system while adapting to the talents of each quarterback is where Holmgren flourishes.

Montana, Young and Favre had dramatically different skills and personalities. Holmgren was able to get Young, a perfectionist, to calm down and to use his legs. Favre had to be corralled while still taking advantage of his play-making abilities.

Hasselbeck has an above-average skill set in all departments. Holmgren has managed to magnify the strengths.

The temperament Edwards noticed back in the early '80s has been Holmgren's greatest asset with Hasselbeck. Their early years together were a scuffle of wills.

"I always thought Matt could do it, it just took him a little longer to say, 'OK, I buy into what you are teaching.' That is his makeup," Holmgren said.

During those battles, Holmgren's ability to know when to push and when to pat created a bond.

"The communication during the football game between the two of us is really healthy," Holmgren said. "I give him a little more leeway now, probably. He trusts me a little more. It all works. If you are fortunate enough to stay together for awhile, you kind of get through that."

Now Holmgren's handpicked selection is heading to his second Pro Bowl. His career is beginning to mirror Favre's.

"I think the similarities are, they are both hardheaded and stubborn, let's start there," the coach said. "Both are very bright, both very competitive. But, Matt was a later draft choice; Brett was a high draft choice. Matt had a longer way to go, where Brett was kind of handed the ball sooner."

Compare their progression under Holmgren and the two are more similar than most would believe.

Favre's numbers are a bit gaudier. But comparing their fifth years under Holmgren, Hasselbeck's QB rating is superior (98.1 to Favre's 95.8 in 1996, his second straight MVP season).

In seasons three through five, Holmgren's Favre-led Packers went 33-15, and Holmgren's Hasselbeck-led Hawks enter Sunday at 32-15. In that same timeframe, Hasselbeck completed 61.6 percent of his passes; Favre 61.7 percent.

"I think the similarities were, I coached them both hard," Holmgren said. "I don't mean that in a bad way. You kind of bang around a little bit, then all of a sudden the light goes on. Then it is really fun"

It was Favre's fifth year with Holmgren in which he led the Packers to a 13-3 record and Super Bowl title.

In Hasselbeck's fifth year, he has led the Seahawks to a 13-2 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

If Hasselbeck can end his fifth season under Holmgren the same way Favre did, maybe Holmgren's hope for a fourth Hall of Famer might not seem so outlandish.

"I wouldn't begin to compare Matt with Brett or anyone else," Holmgren said. "I think Matt is his own man and Brett is going to go into the Hall of Fame and all those things. But Matt is playing very, very well, and he should continue to play well for the rest of the time he is playing."

"I am happy for Matt. He has gone through some stuff the other guys didn't necessarily have to go through. To his credit he has done a remarkable job, to the point where now this is his football team."